Article assembling apparatus



Dec. 26, 1944.

E. G. CHAMBERS ETAL 2,365,303

ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOES m H EGY v WWL M W35 6 ER.

Dec. 26, 1944.

E. G. CHAMB ERS ETA 2,365,803 ARTICLE 7 AS SE MBLING' APPARATUS FiledOct. 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE/V TOES E. QCHHMBERS E. B. KLINGGASEELEY BY I H ram/Zr 9 4- E. G. CHAMBERS ETAL ARTICLE ASSEMBLINGAEPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 16, 1942 /NVEN7.'OE$ 6. (m/nuns E.B. Ku/va G. H. SEELEY A TOENEV Dec. 26, 1944.

'E. G. CHAMBERS HAL 3 3 ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APVPARATUS v 4 Sheefs-Sheet 4Filed Oct. 16, 1942 WWI/.

. YIIL B. Ku/va GA. 81:51.5) C/ X- ram/Ev Patented Dec. 26, 1944 ARTICLEASSEIWBLING APPARATUS Edwin G. Chambers, Towson, and Ralph B. Kling, andGeorge A. Seeley, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application()ctober'lfi, 1942, Serial No. 462,282

8 Claims.

This invention relates to article assembling apparatus, and moreparticularly to apparatus for assembling a metallic sealing and mountingelement on a ceramic body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple apparatusfor expeditiously assembling parts to form an article.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, apparatus isprovided for quickly assembling metallic sealing pans and, corkcushioning members to ceramic blocks, wherein a p urality of cooperatingclamping blocks are resiliently connected to fixed and movable clampactuators which are, in turn, positioned to be actuated by fluidpressure operated means to apply pressure to the sealing pan to bend itinto clamping engagement with the ceramic block without damaging theblock and wherein ceramic blocks of dilTerent lengths may be assembledwith corresponding pans and insulators by selectively longitudinallyextending grooves taken along the line 22 of Fig. l in the direcclampingelements without a sealing pan, cushion and ceramic blockpositioned onthem;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3of Fig. l in the direction of thearrows showing a part of the controlmechanism for the clamping blocks whereby they may be disabled when somesizes of ceramic blocks are having an insulator and pan attached to themin the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially alongthe line 44 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows and showing othersof the control means for the clamping blocks set in position to' renderthe clamping. blocks associatedwith them operative;

Fig. 5 is an irregular transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 55 of' Fig. 1

in the direction of the arrows and showing the clamping means in theiroperated position;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 6-45 of Fig. 1

in the'direction of the arrows showing a medium sized ceramic block indot and dash lines placed in the apparatus preparatory to having a panclamped to it;

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the article which is assembled in theapparatus, part being broken away to conserve space, and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the fluid pres sure circuit foractuating the apparatus.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate the sameparts throughout the several views, there is disclosed apparatus forattaching a sealing pan ll (Fig. '7) to the underside of a block l2 ofceramic material to seal the terminal ends of wires'from a cable I3 in ahollow l4 formed in the block I2. The block l2 has mounted on itterminal posts'l5-l 5, to which the wires (not shown) from the cable l3are to be attached. Sincethe sealingpan H, which is made of sheet metal,is clamped'onto the block l2 there would be a possibility of the blockbeing cracked if the metal pan l l contacted with the block during theassembly thereof and accordingly there is a cork cushion l6 interposedbetween the sealing pan and the block l2, which cushion is assembledwith the sealing pan to the ceramicxblock 12. The block I2 is providedwith ll-l'l, into which the edges of the pan H are bent in the apparatusconstituting the present invention. In order that the .pan may bereadily secured to the block I2, it is preliminarily bent to asubstantially U-shaped configuration, as shown in Fig. 2, before beingoperated upon in the present apparatus. Furthermore, in the apparatusconstituting the present invention, the upwardly extending sides of thepan I l are not only bent into clamping engagement with the block l2,but ad- J'acent the ends of the pan H the sides of it are bent over tosecure the cork cushion IS in place and to prevent longitudinal movementof the block I! with respect to the pan H.

In the apparatus for performing" these operations there is. provided atable 20, having suitable legs or standards 2 l--2l for supporting it atany convenient height for an operator who is to operate the apparatus.The table Zil is provided with three apertures 22 23 and 24 adjacent itsright edge (Fig. 1), through which extend a series of piston rods 25, 2Gand 21, respectively, all of exactly the same construction and allextending downwardly to cylinders 28, 29 and 30 (Fig. 8) suitablypositioned under the table and pivotally mounted, as shown at 3|, 32 and33 so that the piston rod and cylinder may rock slightly as fluid isadmitted to the cylinders to actuate the piston rods. It should be notedthat the cylinders 28, 29 and 36 are of different sizes, since each ofthem will, in the operation of the apparatus, be utilized to apply adifferent amount of pressure to moving parts of the apparatus, as willbe described hereinafter. The apparatus mounted upon the table 20 isdesigned 'to simultaneously clamp sealing pans onto two ceramic blocks 2and is so constructed that the sealing pans of any one of threedifferentlengths may be readily assembled to correspondinglyproportioned blocks l2. As seen most clearly in Fig. 1, the three pistonrods 25, 26 and 21 have associated with them, actuator members 34 35 and36, the size of which is generally proportional to the size of thecylinders 28, 29 and 36, shown in Fig. -8. The actuator members 34, 35and 36 are each interconnected with their respective piston rod bylinkage mechanism of exactly the same.

construction, only one of which will be described .in detail herein. Thelinkage mechanism interconnecting the piston rod 25 with the actuator 34comprises a toggle 31 pivotally connected to the piston rod .at theupper end thereof by means of a pin 38 and also pivoted on a push rod 39by means of a pin 4|). The push rod 39 is fixed to the actuator 34, andthe toggle 31 is provided with a-notch 4|, which receives a roller 42mounted on an extending portion 43 of a slidable bar 44. Thereafter,when the piston rod '25 is moved downwardly, the roller 42 will serve asan abutment about which "the toggle 31 will be rocked. This will resultin the actuator 34 being moved to the left and in the bar 44 being drawnto the ri ht (Fig. 2).

The actuator 34 is slidable with respect to the table 20 and .is held inposition with respect thereto by a T-shaped bracket 45, which is mountedon or formed integral with the bar 44 and the bar 44 extends under ablock 46, suitably attached to the plate '26, the bar 44 being slidablein ways 41 formed in the table 20. From the foregoing it is believed tobe apparent that when the piston 25 is'moved downwardly, the bar 44 willbe moved to the right and the rod 39 will be moved to the left (Fig. 2),to carry the actuator 34 and .an actuator 48 mounted upon a block 49,which vis, in'turn, secured to the bar 44 toward each other. Theactuator 48 hasattached to its right hand surface (Fig. 2), a .strip ofsoft rubber 56 and the actuator 34 carries a bar having on its left handsurface a similar strip 'of soft rubber 52.

Positioned in alignment with the strips 50 and 52 are two similar strips53 and 54 mounted upon .a plate 55 secured to the block 46. Each of thestrips of rubber 50 52, 53 and 54 has mounted :in abutting relationthereto a series of forming blocks 56 and 51, which will be urged tomove relatively toward each other when the actuators 34 and 48 are movedtoward each other. The

on pins 6| and are each urged to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 bya leaf spring 62 fixed to the pawls 6|] and bearing against a stop pin63. The pins 6| are ounted at opposite ends of the blocks 51 so thatthey will properly seat the pan in its transverse position with respectto the apparatus. The stop pins 63 are also mounted in the blocks 51 toproperly position the pawls 60.

At the rear end of the apparatus, as viewed in Fig. 1, there is rovideda plate 64 having projections 6565 for locating two pans in theapparatus in position to receive a cork insulator l6 and ceramic blockl2. The forward end of the pan is properly positioned by means of a pairof locating fingers 66 and 61 mounted on the ends of a pair of levers 68and 69, respectively. The levers are mounted upon the upper ends ofinterposer members 10 and 1|, respectively, which are slidable inbearing portions 12 and 13 of the blocks 49 and 46, respectively. Eachof the interposer members 1|) and 1| is provided with a shouder portion15 and 16, which fits snugly in the bearing portions 12 and 13 andserves to hold the interposer member from being completely removed fromits bearing due to the engagement of the upper surface of said shoulderwith the actuator 48 and plate (Fig. 3).

When a sealing pan H and cork cushion I6- are to be assembled, the corkcushion is placed on the upper edges of the forming projection 58. .Whenthe ceramic block I2 is pushed down into the sealing pan the corkcushion will be bent around to position between the three surfaces ofthe pan ii and the block I2. Then, when the piston 25 is moveddownwardly, the forming blocks 56 and 51 will be resiliently urged tobend over the upper edges of the vertical portions of the sealing paninto the grooves |1 formed in the block |2. The block |2, in beingpositioned with respect to the sealing pan II and cork cushion I6,

is set into engagement with a stop 19 (Figs. 1 and 2) which locates itlongitudinally and transversely and into engagement with a stop 86,which serves to locate the block transversely of its length. The stops19 and 88 are so positioned that after the block has been forced downinto the pan l|' manually, the upper surface of the block will, as seenmost clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, be positioned below the under surface ofthe stops whereby when the apparatus is operated, the stops will notengage the ceramic block.

The portion of the apparatus described hereinbefore is that utilized forbending the upper edges of the sealing pan into the notches l1 and itwill be understood that sealing pans II,

V cork cushion l6, and blocks l2 of three diflerforming blocks 56 and 51have forming projec- Figs. 2 and 3. The locating pawls 60 are pivotedcut lengths may be assembled two at a time in the apparatus, threesections 8|, 82 and 83 being provided .in each half of the apparatus foras sembling blocks l2, pans II and cushions l6 .of three differentlengths. The block I 2, as shown in Fig. 1, is the medium sized block,but it will be understood that a block which extends substantially thelength of the section 8| might be assembled by properly setting up theapparatus or that a block the length of sections 8|, 82 and 83 might beassembled by a proper setting of the apparatus. If a block 01'substantially the length indicated by the section 6| is to be assembled,a lever 84 of exactly the same construction as the lever 69 may be setto position transversely of the apparatus, as the lever 69 is shown inFig. 1, and in that case the lever 84 will serve the same purpose for ashorter length terminal assembly that th lever 69 serves Ior the mediumsized assembly. Similarly, the lever 69 may be swung to a positionsimilar to the position shown .for lever 84 if the longest or third sizeassembly is to be assembled in the apparatus. I

In addition to serving as a positioning means for the sealing pans. tobe assembled with blocks I2,the lever. 84 serves, when in th positionshown in Fig, 1, to hold the interposer member. 10 in its upperposition, due to the fact that the downwardly extending locating fingers66 and B'Iwill engagethe plate 55 and prevent the interposer member 18from assuming its lowermost position. In otherwords, the interposermember will beheld in-the position shOWn in Fig. 3. .However, if thelever 84 is movedto position parallel with the lever 69 and a lever 85,similar to lever 68, is moved to position parallel with lever 68, theinterposer members 86 and Blassociated with levers84 and 85 will bedropped to a position silmilar to that occupied by the interposermembers 10 and II, as shown in Fig. 4, where they will block themovement of cammin-g blocks 88 and 89. With the apparatus arranged asshown in Fig. 1, that is, with the interposer members 86 and 81'held intheir raised position and the interposer members 18 and II in theirlower positions, the interposers l and H will blockthe movement ofcam'ming'blocks 90 and 9I, respectively. The ca'mming blocks 99 and SIandthe camming blocks 88 and 89 are each provided with spring pressedplungers 92, which normally urge forming counterclockwise and clockwise,respectively, about the stop pins63, On which they are pivoted. Thelevers 93 and 94 carry rollers 91 and 98, respectively, at their lowerends for engaging the inner surfaces of-the camming blocks 99 and 9|,and, thus, if themoveiment of the camrr'iing blocks 90 and 9|. isblocked by their assoin their lowered plungers 92 will and 94 will berocked about the stop pins 63, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, 4and 5. It should be noted that the interposer members II and 86 are ofexactly the same construction position, the spring pressed and that eachof them blocks the movement of the rollers 91 and 98 will be forced totravel downwardly, and, accordingly, the levers 93 and 94 will be rockedto bring their adjacent forming ends down onto the upwardly extendingends of the sealing pan II to bend it to the position shown at 99 andI00 in Figs. 5 and 7. When the interposer members I0, TI, 88 or 8'! arein their upper position, the camniing blocks 88, 89, 90 and BI will befree to move and will not cause the forming levers 93 and 94 to operate.How" ever, theforming levers at the front and rear of the apparatus willoperate each time their associate-d actuators 34 or 36 are operatedsince their rollers 9'! and 98 engage stationary blocks it!) and I23.

Thus the forming levers 93 and 94 act asselectively operable means foroverforming portions of the sealing pan or metallic member I I beyondthe ends of the ceramic member I2.

levers'93 and 94 to rock .ciated interposer members 10, H, 85 or 8?being be depressed and the levers 93 i It will be'understood that withthe construction described hereinbefore, any one of three differentlengths of terminal assemblies may be assembled in the apparatus byproperly adjustin the levers 84, 85, 68 and 69 and that two similarassemblies may be formed in the apparatus at one time. When the levers8,4 and 85 are set in their position extending transversely of theapparatus, only the cylinder 28 should be supplied with fluid underpressure and, accordingly, valves I04 and I05should be closed to preventthe flow of fluid tothe cylinders 29 and 30. However, if the apparatusis set up as shown in Fig. 1, the valves I04 and I05 should be openedand valves I06 and I 01 should be closed so that fluid under pressurewill be supplied to the cylinders 28 and 29. If it is desired toassemble the longest terminal assembly capable of being assembled in theapparatus, valves I04, I05, I06 and I0! should all be opened and thelevers B8 and 69 should be shifted to position parallel with theposition shown for levers 85 and 86 in Fig. 1.

Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the apparatus'through a supplyline I08 and through two hand-operatedvalves I09 and H9, both of. whichmust be held operated by the operator's hands in order to insure thatthe operator'will not get his hands caught in theapparatus. In additionto the valves I09 and M8 in the fluid supply line I08, there is provideda treadle actuated valve III, which must also be operated to supply thefluid under pressure to operate the cylinders 28, 29 and 30. This valvealso controls the release of fluid from the cylinder after it hasperformed an assembling operation. While the apparatus has beendescribed as one in which three-different lengths of terminal assembliesmay be assembled, it will be understoodthat further sections might beadded to'those shown at 8|, 82 and 83' for assembling more sizes ofassemblies. However, in the operation of the apparatus as shown, anoperator may select which ones of the three cylinders 28, 29 and 30 isto be operated, may

' set the valves as described hereinbefore, may set the levers 85, 8'6,68 and 99 to correspond with the setting of the valves and thereb setthe apparatus to assemble any one of the three sizes of assemblies, twoat a time.-

What is claimed is:

1. An article assembling apparatus comprising a plurality of groupsofbending blocks, means individual to each group of blocks for resilientlysupporting it, an'actuator for each of said means resiliently supportinga group of the bending blocks, means for supplying power to saidactuators, and selectively operable means to control the supply of powerto the actuators.

2. An article assembling apparatus comprising a plurality of fluidactuated devices, a common source of fluid under pressure, meansselectively operable to direct said fluid under pressure to one or moreof said fluid actuated devices, a series of forming members resilientlyconnected to each of the fluid actuated devices, a stationary block, anda series of forming members resiliently connected to said stationaryblock for oooperation with the first mentioned forming members to bend ametallic member into gripping engagement with a frangible member.

3. In an apparatus fOr simultaneously assembling two frangible memberswith two metallic members, a stationary block, a series of formingmembers supported by said block, resilient means the forming members andto adapt the apparatus said block, a. pair of oppositely movableactuators, a seriesv of forming members supported. by said actuators,resilient means interposed between the. forming members and theactuators, and a single. fluid actuated lever for imparting movement tosaid actuators to move them toward the station. my block andsimultaneously bend thev metallic members into gripping. engagement.with the. frangible members.

4. In an apparatus for simultaneously assembling two frangible memberswith two metallic members, a stationary block, a series of formingmembers supported by said block, resilient means interposed between theforming members and said block, a pair of oppositely movable actuators,a series of forming members supported. by said actuators, resilientmeans interposed between the forming members and each of the actuators;a single fluid actuated lever for imparting movement to said actuatorsto move them toward the stationary block and simultaneously bend. themetallic members into. gripping engagement with the frangible members,and selectively operable means individual to each of said actuators forcrimping the ends of said:- metallic members ad jacent the ends of thefrangible members.

5. In an apparatus for assembling a metallic sealing panand a corkcushion on a ceramic block, a series of forming members extendinglongitudinally of said ceramic block, a pair of actuators one for eachof a series of forming members, resilient means interposed between eachof said actuators. and said forming. members associated with it, andfluid actuated means for imparting movement to one of. said actuatorsthrough the-resilient means to the iorming'members to apply asubstantially equal pressure to each. ofsaidforming members to bend. theseal-- ing pan and cork cushion into gripping engagement with theceramic block: without the ceramic block.

6. In an apparatus for assembling ceramic members with metallic members,a. series of re.- siliently mounted forming members, means for:imparting relative movement to said resiliently mounted forming membersto form the metallic member into gripping engagement: with the co.-ramic member, and selectively operable: means for overforming portionsof the metallic member beyond the ends of: the-ceramic. member.

7:. Inan apparatus for assembling cerami members with metallic members,a. series or resiliently mounted forming members, means. for impartingrelative movement to said resiliently mounted forming members to form.the metallic member into gripping engagement with the cc.- ramic member,selectively operable; means. for overiorming portions ofthe metallic.member be yond the.- ends of the ceramic membenand inter poser memberssettable to cause predetermined ones of. said overforming members: to.operates 8. In an. apparatus for assembling; ceramic members: withmetallic members, a. series of. re siliently mounted. forming members,means. for imparting relative movement. to said resiliently mountedforming members to form the metallic member into gripping engagementwith the cc. ramic member, selectively operable means for overformingportionsv of. the metallic;v me'mber. beyond the ends of the ceramicmember, interposer members settable. to cause predetermined; ones ofsaid overforming members to. operate, and slide able. camming blockscooperatingv with the interposer members, said interposer; memberscooperating with said slidable camming blocks to effeet the actuation.of said overforming means.

RALlEI-I B. KL-ING. GEORGE A.v SEELEY.'. EDWIN G. CHAMBERS".

